CA2155972A1 - A fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture - Google Patents
A fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufactureInfo
- Publication number
- CA2155972A1 CA2155972A1 CA002155972A CA2155972A CA2155972A1 CA 2155972 A1 CA2155972 A1 CA 2155972A1 CA 002155972 A CA002155972 A CA 002155972A CA 2155972 A CA2155972 A CA 2155972A CA 2155972 A1 CA2155972 A1 CA 2155972A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- lamp
- amalgam
- mercury
- pellets
- fill material
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 229910000497 Amalgam Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims abstract description 61
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 18
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title description 10
- YVUZUKYBUMROPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury zinc Chemical compound [Zn].[Hg] YVUZUKYBUMROPQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title description 6
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 83
- 229910052753 mercury Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 70
- 239000008188 pellet Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 36
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 26
- HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc Chemical compound [Zn] HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 22
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 16
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 17
- 239000007791 liquid phase Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000007790 solid phase Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 150000003751 zinc Chemical class 0.000 claims description 4
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- GYHNNYVSQQEPJS-UHFFFAOYSA-N Gallium Chemical compound [Ga] GYHNNYVSQQEPJS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tin Chemical compound [Sn] ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052788 barium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- DSAJWYNOEDNPEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N barium atom Chemical compound [Ba] DSAJWYNOEDNPEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052797 bismuth Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- JCXGWMGPZLAOME-UHFFFAOYSA-N bismuth atom Chemical compound [Bi] JCXGWMGPZLAOME-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052793 cadmium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- BDOSMKKIYDKNTQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N cadmium atom Chemical compound [Cd] BDOSMKKIYDKNTQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052733 gallium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052738 indium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- APFVFJFRJDLVQX-UHFFFAOYSA-N indium atom Chemical compound [In] APFVFJFRJDLVQX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000007712 rapid solidification Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052712 strontium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- CIOAGBVUUVVLOB-UHFFFAOYSA-N strontium atom Chemical compound [Sr] CIOAGBVUUVVLOB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052718 tin Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000010587 phase diagram Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000010791 quenching Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000171 quenching effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phosphorus Chemical compound [P] OAICVXFJPJFONN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000000889 atomisation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004512 die casting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009792 diffusion process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000003642 hunger Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000012535 impurity Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002730 mercury Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000012071 phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005215 recombination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006798 recombination Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000006104 solid solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000037351 starvation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 231100000331 toxic Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000002588 toxic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000005303 weighing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J9/00—Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture, installation, removal, maintenance of electric discharge tubes, discharge lamps, or parts thereof; Recovery of material from discharge tubes or lamps
- H01J9/38—Exhausting, degassing, filling, or cleaning vessels
- H01J9/395—Filling vessels
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
- H01J61/02—Details
- H01J61/24—Means for obtaining or maintaining the desired pressure within the vessel
- H01J61/28—Means for producing, introducing, or replenishing gas or vapour during operation of the lamp
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J61/00—Gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps
- H01J61/02—Details
- H01J61/24—Means for obtaining or maintaining the desired pressure within the vessel
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Discharge Lamp (AREA)
- Manufacture Of Electron Tubes, Discharge Lamp Vessels, Lead-In Wires, And The Like (AREA)
Abstract
A fluorescent lamp containing zinc amalgam and a method of precisely controlling the amount of mercury introduced into a temperature controlled fluorescent lamp. Precise quantities of mercury may be introduced into a fluorescent lamp in the form of solid zinc amalgam pellets that are in a metastable, non-equilibrium state.
Description
215~72 ~10 94/18692 PCT/US94/01899 A FLUORESCENT LAMP CONI~AINING A MERCURY ZINC p.M~r.t'AM
AND A h~ 1 ~C~LI OF MANUFACTURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to conventional fluorescent lamps in which the mercury vapor pressure is controlled by controlling the temperature of the lamps that heretofore have been dosed with liquid mercury, and more particularly to such lamps containing mercury in the form of a zinc amalgam that, in contrast to the predicted equilibrium condition, is in a metastable, non-equilibrium state.
All fluorescent lamps contain mercury which is vaporized during lamp operation. The mercury vapor atoms efficiently convert electrical energy to ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of 253.7 nm when the mercury vapor pressure is in the range of approximately 2 X 10-3 to 2 X lo-2 torr (optimally about 6 X 10-3 torr). The ultraviolet radiation is in turn absorbed by a phosphor coating on the interior of the lamp wall and converted to visible light. The temperature of the coldest spot on the inner wall of the lamp when the lamp is operating is referred to as the ~cold spot temperature" and will determine the mercury vapor pressure within the lamp.
When a lamp containing only mercury operates with a cold spot temperature above about 40C, the mercury vapor pressure will exceed the optimal value of 6 X 10-3 torr. As the temperature increases, the mercury vapor pressure increases and more of the ultraviolet radiation is self-absorbed by the mercury, thereby lowering the efficiency of the lamp and reducing light output.
The mercury vapor pressure may be maintained within the desired range either by controlling the cold spot temperature of the lamp (hereinafter referred to as "temperature control") or by introducing other metallic elements into the lamp in the-form of amalgams that maintain the mercury vapor pressure (hereinafter referred to as ~amalgam control"). For example, fluorescent lamps that have cold spot temperatures above about 75C, such as some types of small diameter, low wattage fluorescent lamps generally known as "compact" fluorescents, 2 ~ ~ 15S9 7 2 PCT~S94/01899 are amalgam controlled in that they typically require two or more elements in addition to mercury which may be introduced into the lamp as solid ternary or multicomponent amalgams.
Such amalgam controlled lamps rely on establishment of thermodynamic equilibrium for proper lamp operation (see, for example, U.S. Patent 4,145,634 issued March 20, 1979 to Evans, et al.).
The present invention is directed to temperature controlled fluorescent lamps.
Temperature controlled fluorescent lamps may operate with a cold spot temperature below about 75C (typically ranging from 20 to 75C) and desirably 40C to 60C. Such lamps are also referred to as "low temperature" fluorescent lamps.
In temperature controlled lamps (e.a., ceiling mounted fluorescent lamps) the mercury is typically introduced into the lamp as a liquid in an amount related to the wattage and rated life of the lamp. For example, 10-15 milligrams of liquid mercury are typically needed to attain an average rated life of 20,000 hours for a 40 watt fluorescent lamp.
However, the high speed, automated manufacturing processes typically used to dose each lamp with liquid mercury lack precision because of the nature of the liquid mercury, the length and configuration of the path by which introduced, and the atomization of the mercury by the high velocity puff of inert gas used to effect introduction. As a result of the variability in the amount of mercury which reaches the lamp, a considerable excess of liquid mercury is used to insure that at least the minimum amount of liquid mercury is introduced into each lamp. Some of the known manufacturing processes allot an average of three to five times the amount of liquid mercury needed to achieve average rated life. Thus, most lamps receive far more mercury than is needed, even up to ten -times the amount needed, to achieve the average rated life.
This use of excessive amounts of liquid mercury is wasteful and may produce very unfavorable consequences. For example, only part of the total amount of liquid mercury introduced into the lamp is converted to vapor when the lamp 21 ~5~ 72 -~094/18692 PCT~S94/01899 is operating leaving droplets of liquid mercury that cause dark spots on the lamp that are aesthetically undesirable.
Further, and perhaps more significantly, mercury is toxic and lamp disposal is becoming a significant issue throughout the world. Thus, it is clearly desirable to manufacture fluorescent lamps with the minimum amount of mercury needed to meet the average rated life.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to obviate many of the above discussed problems and to provide a novel fluorescent lamp which contains a controlled amount of mercury.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel temperature controlled fluorescent lamp which contains mercury in the form of a zinc amalgam.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel fluorescent lamp in which mercury is introduced into the lamp in the form of a solid binary amalgam and which retains most of the second constituent of the binary amalgam (e.~., zinc) in solid form during lamp operation.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel lamp fill material for a temperature controlled fluorescent lamp that is solid and easily handled at temperatures below about 40C.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel method of introducing a precise amount of mercury into a temperature controlled fluorescent lamp.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a novel method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with a solid, reducing the total mercury by allowing more accurate and reliable dosing.
These and many other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a perusal of the claims, the appended drawings, and the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.
21~5972 WO ~118692 PCT~S94/01899 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure l is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the lamp of the present invention.
Figure 2 is the published zinc-mercury equilibrium phase diagram.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
One embodiment of the novel fluorescent lamp of the present invention is illustrated in Figure l. It may be of standard size suitable for installation and use in conventional ceiling fixtures and contains mercury in the form of a zinc amalgam.
The amalgam may be binary, that is, consisting only of zinc and mercury (and with such minor impurities as may be introduced in the manufacturing process), or may consist substantially of zinc and mercury with a small portion (typically less than about l0 weight percent) of such other materials as may be appropriate (for example, bismuth, lead, indium, cadmium, tin, gallium, strontium, calcium and/or barium). The amalgam is desirably better than 99~ pure and generally free of oxygen and water.
The amalgam is desirably about 5 to 60 weight percent mercury (about 3 to 33 atomic percent), with 40 to 60 weight percent mercury being preferred to reduce the amount of zinc introduced into the lamp. As shown in the published zinc-mercury phase diagram of Figure 2, the amalgam in the desired percent weight range is predicted to be a solid at room temperature, to begin melting between 20C and 42.9C, and to be completely molten between 280C (60 weight percent) and 400C ~5 weight percent). As discussed in more detail below, the amalgam may not have the predicted characteristics, and may not be at equilibrium. The amalgam may be in a metastable, non-equilibrium state.
With continued reference to Figure 2, the equilibrium binary amalgam above 42.9C consists of a liquid phase containing a relatively small portion of the zinc in solution and a solid phase containing the balance of the zinc in a _VO 94/1869~ ~$53~ PCTNS94/01899 solid solution. For example, when the temperature of a 50 weight percent mercury amalgam exceeds 42.9C, about one-half the amalgam is in a liquid phase producing a pool that is about 95~ mercury by weight. This mercury rich liquid provides sufficient mercury vapor for efficient lamp operation. The amalgam which remains in the solid phase contains more than 90~ zinc by weight. These conditions are typically achieved during lamp manufacture and operation.
As shown in the equilibrium phase diagram of Figure 2, the 50 weight percent zinc-mercury amalgam is solid below 42.9C. In contrast to the liquid mercury used in conventional temperature controlled fluorescent lamps, the amalgam of the present invention is a solid at room temperature so that it may be accurately dispensed and conveniently stored.
Because the amalgam is a solid at room temperature, the amount of amalgam that is to be introduced into a lamp may be easily quantified and dispensed. For example, small pellets of generally uniform mass and composition may be formed with any shape that is appropriate for the manufacturing process, although spheroidal pellets are the most easily handled and are thus preferred. Pellet diameter is desirably about 200 to 2000 microns.
Spheroidal pellets of generally uniform mass and composition may be made by rapidly solidifying or quenching the amalgam melt, such as by the apparatus and processes disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,216,178 dated August 5, 1980 (and those patents issuing from related applications), all assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The disclosure of said patents is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
These processes can be used to manufacture spheroidal pellets of predetermined and uniform mass (+10~) in the range from 0.05 milligrams to 25 milligrams. Other techniques for making the pellets, such as die casting or extrusion, are known and may be used. The pellets may be weighed, counted or measured volumetrically and introduced into the lamp by means 215537~
WOg4/18692 ~ PCT~S94/01899 of existing devices or other yet to be developed techniques.
For example, a lamp that requires lO mg of mercury may use lO
pellets, each 50 weight percent mercury and weighing 2 milligrams, or it may use one 20 milligram pellet of similar composltlon .
The zinc amalgam pellets manufactured by the rapid solidification or quenching processes discussed above have a structure that is different from that obtained by equilibrium freezing. That is, they do not necessarily melt or freeze in accordance with the published zinc-mercury phase diagram shown in Figure 2. For example, the pellets have a partial zinc-rich exterior shell, and an interior with a random distribution of zinc-rich islands in a mercury-rich matrix.
The intergranular regions are wetted with a mercury-rich liquid that remains stable (l.e., does not approach equilibrium) in the liquid phase when the pellets are stored at about 20C for several years even though the equilibrium phase diagram (Figure 2) predicts that all phases are solid below 42.9C. The rapidly solidified pellets have a porous structure that permits rapid gaseous diffusion of mercury vapor from the interior of the pellets. Further, the rigid structure of the pellets is maintained at temperatures up to 175C.
It has been found that the vapor pressure of the mercury in the lamps at temperatures over 42.9C is enhanced over that which would be expected by thermodynamic calculations, a finding consistent with the non-equilibrium structure of the pellets. At temperatures below 42.9C the mercury vapor pressure is greater than 93~ that of pure mercury, a finding consistent with the intergranular regions of the pellets that are wetted with a mercury-rich liquid. Thus, lamps dosed with the amalgam pellets have a mercury vapor pressure, and more significantly lamp performance, comparable to that of lamps dosed with pure liquid mercury, while providing ease and accuracy of dosing not available in liquid mercury dosed lamps. In contrast to amalgam controlled lamps, equilibrium of the amalgam need not be established.
-~094/18692 ~SS~7 PCT~S94/01899 Further, the porous structure allows rapid release of the mercury and rapid lamp start. The stability of this non-equilibrium structure indicates that the lamps of the present invention will operate over their rated life without mercury starvation and without recombination of released mercury with the pellets. The rigidity of the structure up to 175C
improves manufacturability, even at the high temperatures that may be encountered in a manufacturing plant.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is to be understood that the embodiments described are illustrative only and the scope of the invention is to be defined solely by the appended claims when accorded a full range of equivalence, many variations and modifications naturally occurring to those skilled in the art from a perusal hereof.
AND A h~ 1 ~C~LI OF MANUFACTURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to conventional fluorescent lamps in which the mercury vapor pressure is controlled by controlling the temperature of the lamps that heretofore have been dosed with liquid mercury, and more particularly to such lamps containing mercury in the form of a zinc amalgam that, in contrast to the predicted equilibrium condition, is in a metastable, non-equilibrium state.
All fluorescent lamps contain mercury which is vaporized during lamp operation. The mercury vapor atoms efficiently convert electrical energy to ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of 253.7 nm when the mercury vapor pressure is in the range of approximately 2 X 10-3 to 2 X lo-2 torr (optimally about 6 X 10-3 torr). The ultraviolet radiation is in turn absorbed by a phosphor coating on the interior of the lamp wall and converted to visible light. The temperature of the coldest spot on the inner wall of the lamp when the lamp is operating is referred to as the ~cold spot temperature" and will determine the mercury vapor pressure within the lamp.
When a lamp containing only mercury operates with a cold spot temperature above about 40C, the mercury vapor pressure will exceed the optimal value of 6 X 10-3 torr. As the temperature increases, the mercury vapor pressure increases and more of the ultraviolet radiation is self-absorbed by the mercury, thereby lowering the efficiency of the lamp and reducing light output.
The mercury vapor pressure may be maintained within the desired range either by controlling the cold spot temperature of the lamp (hereinafter referred to as "temperature control") or by introducing other metallic elements into the lamp in the-form of amalgams that maintain the mercury vapor pressure (hereinafter referred to as ~amalgam control"). For example, fluorescent lamps that have cold spot temperatures above about 75C, such as some types of small diameter, low wattage fluorescent lamps generally known as "compact" fluorescents, 2 ~ ~ 15S9 7 2 PCT~S94/01899 are amalgam controlled in that they typically require two or more elements in addition to mercury which may be introduced into the lamp as solid ternary or multicomponent amalgams.
Such amalgam controlled lamps rely on establishment of thermodynamic equilibrium for proper lamp operation (see, for example, U.S. Patent 4,145,634 issued March 20, 1979 to Evans, et al.).
The present invention is directed to temperature controlled fluorescent lamps.
Temperature controlled fluorescent lamps may operate with a cold spot temperature below about 75C (typically ranging from 20 to 75C) and desirably 40C to 60C. Such lamps are also referred to as "low temperature" fluorescent lamps.
In temperature controlled lamps (e.a., ceiling mounted fluorescent lamps) the mercury is typically introduced into the lamp as a liquid in an amount related to the wattage and rated life of the lamp. For example, 10-15 milligrams of liquid mercury are typically needed to attain an average rated life of 20,000 hours for a 40 watt fluorescent lamp.
However, the high speed, automated manufacturing processes typically used to dose each lamp with liquid mercury lack precision because of the nature of the liquid mercury, the length and configuration of the path by which introduced, and the atomization of the mercury by the high velocity puff of inert gas used to effect introduction. As a result of the variability in the amount of mercury which reaches the lamp, a considerable excess of liquid mercury is used to insure that at least the minimum amount of liquid mercury is introduced into each lamp. Some of the known manufacturing processes allot an average of three to five times the amount of liquid mercury needed to achieve average rated life. Thus, most lamps receive far more mercury than is needed, even up to ten -times the amount needed, to achieve the average rated life.
This use of excessive amounts of liquid mercury is wasteful and may produce very unfavorable consequences. For example, only part of the total amount of liquid mercury introduced into the lamp is converted to vapor when the lamp 21 ~5~ 72 -~094/18692 PCT~S94/01899 is operating leaving droplets of liquid mercury that cause dark spots on the lamp that are aesthetically undesirable.
Further, and perhaps more significantly, mercury is toxic and lamp disposal is becoming a significant issue throughout the world. Thus, it is clearly desirable to manufacture fluorescent lamps with the minimum amount of mercury needed to meet the average rated life.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to obviate many of the above discussed problems and to provide a novel fluorescent lamp which contains a controlled amount of mercury.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel temperature controlled fluorescent lamp which contains mercury in the form of a zinc amalgam.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a novel fluorescent lamp in which mercury is introduced into the lamp in the form of a solid binary amalgam and which retains most of the second constituent of the binary amalgam (e.~., zinc) in solid form during lamp operation.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a novel lamp fill material for a temperature controlled fluorescent lamp that is solid and easily handled at temperatures below about 40C.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel method of introducing a precise amount of mercury into a temperature controlled fluorescent lamp.
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a novel method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with a solid, reducing the total mercury by allowing more accurate and reliable dosing.
These and many other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains from a perusal of the claims, the appended drawings, and the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.
21~5972 WO ~118692 PCT~S94/01899 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure l is a pictorial view of one embodiment of the lamp of the present invention.
Figure 2 is the published zinc-mercury equilibrium phase diagram.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
One embodiment of the novel fluorescent lamp of the present invention is illustrated in Figure l. It may be of standard size suitable for installation and use in conventional ceiling fixtures and contains mercury in the form of a zinc amalgam.
The amalgam may be binary, that is, consisting only of zinc and mercury (and with such minor impurities as may be introduced in the manufacturing process), or may consist substantially of zinc and mercury with a small portion (typically less than about l0 weight percent) of such other materials as may be appropriate (for example, bismuth, lead, indium, cadmium, tin, gallium, strontium, calcium and/or barium). The amalgam is desirably better than 99~ pure and generally free of oxygen and water.
The amalgam is desirably about 5 to 60 weight percent mercury (about 3 to 33 atomic percent), with 40 to 60 weight percent mercury being preferred to reduce the amount of zinc introduced into the lamp. As shown in the published zinc-mercury phase diagram of Figure 2, the amalgam in the desired percent weight range is predicted to be a solid at room temperature, to begin melting between 20C and 42.9C, and to be completely molten between 280C (60 weight percent) and 400C ~5 weight percent). As discussed in more detail below, the amalgam may not have the predicted characteristics, and may not be at equilibrium. The amalgam may be in a metastable, non-equilibrium state.
With continued reference to Figure 2, the equilibrium binary amalgam above 42.9C consists of a liquid phase containing a relatively small portion of the zinc in solution and a solid phase containing the balance of the zinc in a _VO 94/1869~ ~$53~ PCTNS94/01899 solid solution. For example, when the temperature of a 50 weight percent mercury amalgam exceeds 42.9C, about one-half the amalgam is in a liquid phase producing a pool that is about 95~ mercury by weight. This mercury rich liquid provides sufficient mercury vapor for efficient lamp operation. The amalgam which remains in the solid phase contains more than 90~ zinc by weight. These conditions are typically achieved during lamp manufacture and operation.
As shown in the equilibrium phase diagram of Figure 2, the 50 weight percent zinc-mercury amalgam is solid below 42.9C. In contrast to the liquid mercury used in conventional temperature controlled fluorescent lamps, the amalgam of the present invention is a solid at room temperature so that it may be accurately dispensed and conveniently stored.
Because the amalgam is a solid at room temperature, the amount of amalgam that is to be introduced into a lamp may be easily quantified and dispensed. For example, small pellets of generally uniform mass and composition may be formed with any shape that is appropriate for the manufacturing process, although spheroidal pellets are the most easily handled and are thus preferred. Pellet diameter is desirably about 200 to 2000 microns.
Spheroidal pellets of generally uniform mass and composition may be made by rapidly solidifying or quenching the amalgam melt, such as by the apparatus and processes disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,216,178 dated August 5, 1980 (and those patents issuing from related applications), all assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The disclosure of said patents is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
These processes can be used to manufacture spheroidal pellets of predetermined and uniform mass (+10~) in the range from 0.05 milligrams to 25 milligrams. Other techniques for making the pellets, such as die casting or extrusion, are known and may be used. The pellets may be weighed, counted or measured volumetrically and introduced into the lamp by means 215537~
WOg4/18692 ~ PCT~S94/01899 of existing devices or other yet to be developed techniques.
For example, a lamp that requires lO mg of mercury may use lO
pellets, each 50 weight percent mercury and weighing 2 milligrams, or it may use one 20 milligram pellet of similar composltlon .
The zinc amalgam pellets manufactured by the rapid solidification or quenching processes discussed above have a structure that is different from that obtained by equilibrium freezing. That is, they do not necessarily melt or freeze in accordance with the published zinc-mercury phase diagram shown in Figure 2. For example, the pellets have a partial zinc-rich exterior shell, and an interior with a random distribution of zinc-rich islands in a mercury-rich matrix.
The intergranular regions are wetted with a mercury-rich liquid that remains stable (l.e., does not approach equilibrium) in the liquid phase when the pellets are stored at about 20C for several years even though the equilibrium phase diagram (Figure 2) predicts that all phases are solid below 42.9C. The rapidly solidified pellets have a porous structure that permits rapid gaseous diffusion of mercury vapor from the interior of the pellets. Further, the rigid structure of the pellets is maintained at temperatures up to 175C.
It has been found that the vapor pressure of the mercury in the lamps at temperatures over 42.9C is enhanced over that which would be expected by thermodynamic calculations, a finding consistent with the non-equilibrium structure of the pellets. At temperatures below 42.9C the mercury vapor pressure is greater than 93~ that of pure mercury, a finding consistent with the intergranular regions of the pellets that are wetted with a mercury-rich liquid. Thus, lamps dosed with the amalgam pellets have a mercury vapor pressure, and more significantly lamp performance, comparable to that of lamps dosed with pure liquid mercury, while providing ease and accuracy of dosing not available in liquid mercury dosed lamps. In contrast to amalgam controlled lamps, equilibrium of the amalgam need not be established.
-~094/18692 ~SS~7 PCT~S94/01899 Further, the porous structure allows rapid release of the mercury and rapid lamp start. The stability of this non-equilibrium structure indicates that the lamps of the present invention will operate over their rated life without mercury starvation and without recombination of released mercury with the pellets. The rigidity of the structure up to 175C
improves manufacturability, even at the high temperatures that may be encountered in a manufacturing plant.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is to be understood that the embodiments described are illustrative only and the scope of the invention is to be defined solely by the appended claims when accorded a full range of equivalence, many variations and modifications naturally occurring to those skilled in the art from a perusal hereof.
Claims (36)
1 . A fluorescent lamp which does not rely on amalgamative metal to control mercury vapor pressure characterized in that mercury in the lamp is in the form of a zinc amalgam.
2. The lamp of Claim 1 wherein said amalgam is about 40 to 60 weight percent mercury.
3. The lamp of Claim 1 wherein said lamp has a cold spot operating temperature of between about 40° and 60°C.
4. The lamp of Claim 1 wherein said amalgam is in the form of one or more pellets, each with mercury-rich liquid in the intergranular regions.
5. The lamp of Claim 1 wherein said amalgam is binary.
6 The lamp of Claim 1 wherein said amalgam exists in both solid and liquid phases when the lamp is operating and wherein the mercury concentration is less than 50 weight percent in the solid phase and more than 50 weight percent in the liquid phase.
7. A temperature controlled fluorescent lamp having a predetermined amount of mercury sealed therein characterized in that the mercury is in the form of a binary zinc amalgam that is partially in the liquid and partially in the solid phase when the lamp is operating.
8. The lamp of Claim 7 wherein the mercury in said amalgam is between about 40 and 60 weight percent.
9. The lamp of Claim 7 wherein the weight percent of mercury in said amalgam is significantly greater in the liquid phase than in the solid phase.
10. The lamp of Claim 7 wherein the mercury is >90 weight percent in the liquid phase.
11. A temperature controlled fluorescent lamp having a predetermined amount of mercury sealed therein characterized in that the mercury is a solid amalgam at room temperature.
12. The lamp of Claim 11 wherein said amalgam includes zinc.
13. The lamp of Claim 12 wherein said amalgam is binary.
14. The lamp of Claim 13 wherein the mercury in said amalgam is between about 40 and 60 weight percent.
15. The lamp of Claim 14 wherein said amalgam is in pellets with interiors having mercury-rich liquid portions.
16. The lamp of Claim 15 wherein said pellets have an outer shell with a zinc-rich portion.
17. A lamp fill material for a temperature controlled fluorescent lamp characterized in that the fill material is a zinc amalgam.
18. The lamp fill material of Claim 17 wherein said amalgam comprises one or more pellets.
19. The lamp fill material of Claim 18 wherein, at about 20°C, said pellets have an interior with mercury-rich liquid portions.
20. The lamp fill material of Claim 19 wherein said pellets have an outer shell with a zinc-rich portion.
21. The lamp fill material of Claim 20 wherein said pellets are porous so that mercury vapor can diffuse from the interior of the pellets.
22. A lamp fill material for a fluorescent lamp characterized in that the material includes pellets of zinc amalgam.
23. The lamp fill material of Claim 22 wherein the fluorescent lamp is temperature controlled.
24. The lamp fill material of Claim 22 wherein said pellets are uncoated.
25. The lamp fill material of Claim 22 wherein said zinc amalgam is about 5 to 60 weight percent mercury.
26. The lamp fill material of Claim 25 wherein said pellets are each between 0.05 and 25 milligrams in mass.
27. The lamp fill material of Claim 25 wherein said pellets are in a metastable, non-equilibrium state.
28. The lamp fill material of Claim 25 wherein said amalgam further comprises less than 10 weight percent of one or more elements taken from the group consisting of bismuth, lead, indium, cadmium, tin, gallium, strontium, calcium and barium.
29. A method of dosing a temperature controlled fluorescent lamp characterized in that, the mercury is provided in a zinc amalgam that is a solid below about 40°C and partially solid and partially liquid at the operating temperature of the lamp; and the amalgam is introduced into the lamp as a solid.
30. The method of Claim 29 wherein the amalgam is introduced into the lamp in the form of one or more pellets.
31. The method of Claim 30 wherein the pellets are formed by rapid solidification of the amalgam so that each of the pellets has a zinc-rich outer shell and an interior with mercury-rich liquid portions.
32. The method of Claim 29 wherein said amalgam is between 40 and 60 weight percent mercury.
33. The method of Claim 29 wherein said amalgam is binary.
34. A method of dosing a fluorescent lamp with mercury without introducing lamp fill material which has a significant effect on the vapor pressure of the mercury when the lamp is operating, characterized in that the method includes, providing an amalgam that is solid below about 40°C and that does not significantly regulate the vapor pressure of mercury in said lamp; and introducing the amalgam into said lamp at a temperature below about 40° C.
35. The method of Claim 34 wherein the amalgam is a zinc amalgam.
36. The method of Claim 34 wherein the amalgam is introduced into the lamp in the form of pellets that are in a metastable, non-equilibrium state.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US1688793A | 1993-02-12 | 1993-02-12 | |
| US016,887 | 1993-02-12 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2155972A1 true CA2155972A1 (en) | 1994-08-18 |
Family
ID=21779548
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002155972A Abandoned CA2155972A1 (en) | 1993-02-12 | 1994-02-14 | A fluorescent lamp containing a mercury zinc amalgam and a method of manufacture |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US6339287B1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0683919B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP3027006B2 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR100324090B1 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9405796A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2155972A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69425559T2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994018692A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (16)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0744762A1 (en) | 1995-05-22 | 1996-11-27 | Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation | Low pressure mercury vapour discharge lamp and lighting apparatus using the same |
| JP3267213B2 (en) | 1997-09-26 | 2002-03-18 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | Low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp and method of manufacturing the same |
| US6910932B2 (en) * | 2000-04-12 | 2005-06-28 | Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. | Solid mercury releasing material and method of dosing mercury into discharge lamps |
| US20020180340A1 (en) * | 2001-05-25 | 2002-12-05 | Hansen Steven C. | Materials and methods for mercury vapor pressure control in discharge devices |
| JP4077448B2 (en) * | 2004-07-30 | 2008-04-16 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | Fluorescent lamp, illumination device, and method of manufacturing fluorescent lamp |
| ATE534137T1 (en) | 2005-09-26 | 2011-12-15 | Advanced Lighting Tech Inc | BISMUTH-INDIUM-AMALGAM, FLUORESCENCE LAMPS AND PRODUCTION PROCESS |
| US8668841B2 (en) * | 2006-06-09 | 2014-03-11 | Advanced Lighting Technologies, Inc. | Bismuth-zinc-mercury amalgam, fluorescent lamps, and related methods |
| ITMI20061344A1 (en) | 2006-07-11 | 2008-01-12 | Getters Spa | METHOD FOR RELEASING MERCURY |
| ATE514797T1 (en) | 2007-04-28 | 2011-07-15 | Umicore Ag & Co Kg | AMALGAM BALLS FOR ENERGY SAVING LAMPS AND THEIR PRODUCTION |
| US20090284183A1 (en) * | 2008-05-15 | 2009-11-19 | S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. | CFL Auto Shutoff for Improper Use Condition |
| CN102157340A (en) * | 2010-02-11 | 2011-08-17 | 上海宝临防爆电器有限公司 | Explosionproof high-frequency electrodeless lamp |
| CN102157339A (en) * | 2010-02-11 | 2011-08-17 | 上海宝临防爆电器有限公司 | Electromagnetic induction type high-frequency electrodeless lamp |
| CN102154575A (en) * | 2010-02-11 | 2011-08-17 | 上海宝临防爆电器有限公司 | Amalgam for electrodeless lamp |
| ITMI20100285A1 (en) | 2010-02-23 | 2011-08-24 | Getters Spa | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLED DISTRIBUTION OF MERCURY AND DEVICES PRODUCED WITH THIS METHOD |
| DE202011110608U1 (en) | 2011-03-09 | 2015-02-23 | Umicore Ag & Co. Kg | alloys |
| EP2975143B1 (en) | 2011-03-09 | 2018-12-19 | SAXONIA Technical Materials GmbH | Process for the manufacture of amalgamballs |
Family Cites Families (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2467687A (en) * | 1946-07-08 | 1949-04-19 | Gen Electric | High-pressure discharge lamp |
| US3336502A (en) * | 1963-12-31 | 1967-08-15 | Sylvania Electric Prod | Automatic heater control system for amalgam pressure control of fluorescent lamps |
| US3526804A (en) * | 1967-10-27 | 1970-09-01 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Fluorescent lamp or similar device containing an amalgam of tin-indium-mercury which controls the mercury vapor pressure during operation |
| US4216178A (en) * | 1976-02-02 | 1980-08-05 | Scott Anderson | Process for producing sodium amalgam particles |
| US4145634A (en) * | 1978-02-17 | 1979-03-20 | Westinghouse Electric Corp. | Fluorescent lamp having integral mercury-vapor pressure control means |
| US4698549A (en) * | 1984-07-02 | 1987-10-06 | General Electric Company | D.C. lamp discharge gas pumping control |
| NL8702123A (en) * | 1987-09-08 | 1989-04-03 | Philips Nv | LOW-PRESSURE MERCURY DISCHARGE LAMP. |
| DD287592A5 (en) * | 1989-08-31 | 1991-02-28 | Kombinat Veb Narva "Rosa Luxemburg",De | MICRO-CONTAINING DOSING BODY FOR A DISCHARGE LAMP |
-
1994
- 1994-02-14 CA CA002155972A patent/CA2155972A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1994-02-14 EP EP94910153A patent/EP0683919B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-02-14 WO PCT/US1994/001899 patent/WO1994018692A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1994-02-14 KR KR1019950703124A patent/KR100324090B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1994-02-14 JP JP6518396A patent/JP3027006B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-02-14 DE DE69425559T patent/DE69425559T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-02-14 BR BR9405796A patent/BR9405796A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1994-09-01 US US08/299,292 patent/US6339287B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO1994018692A1 (en) | 1994-08-18 |
| EP0683919A4 (en) | 1997-05-28 |
| DE69425559D1 (en) | 2000-09-21 |
| JP3027006B2 (en) | 2000-03-27 |
| KR100324090B1 (en) | 2002-08-27 |
| DE69425559T2 (en) | 2001-05-23 |
| BR9405796A (en) | 1995-12-12 |
| JPH08509569A (en) | 1996-10-08 |
| EP0683919B1 (en) | 2000-08-16 |
| EP0683919A1 (en) | 1995-11-29 |
| US6339287B1 (en) | 2002-01-15 |
| KR960700520A (en) | 1996-01-20 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |